Chapter 176


    Easton


    I''m heading towards Harper and ke when I see him lean in, as if that motherfucker is going in for a


    kiss with my girlfriend.


    What.


    The.


    Fuck.


    I see red.


    I break out into a full run, grabbing the back of ke''s shirt as soon as I get close, and yanking him


    away from Harper.


    She''s staring at me as if she''s in shock, a horrified expression on her face.


    “Easton,’ she breathes.


    I point at her.


    "Don''t move"


    I turn on ke whose facing me with a furious expression on his face, his right hand in a fist as if he''s


    going to throw it at me.


    "What the fuck, man? Why are you making moves on my girl?" My voice is loud enough that it carries


    across the pool and beyond, and I realize quick we have an audience.


    Fuck.


    "I wasn''t making moves on Harp.” ke lurches to the left, nearly copsing and I jump forward,


    grabbing hold of his arm to keep him from falling.


    “I just—I''m in a mood"


    “You''re drunk.” "It''s not just that.” He shakes his head, his gaze distressed.


    "Don''t you miss how things used to be?" The music starts back up, a popr rap song ying at top


    volume and I take a step forward so we can hear each other.


    "Things change, bro. We grow up. And we can''t stop it from happening either"


    "I know"


    ke hangs his head, looking sad as hell.


    "I just miss how we used to be.


    When it was just me, you and Ryan and we''d hang out all the time.


    Get into trouble.


    Remember when you used to fuck around with Leigh?" I frown, hating that he brought that bitch up.


    "I don''t want to talk about her"


    "I know. Yeah, you''re right. I''m sorry. I should''ve never brought this shit up. My bad"


    He turns, ready to leave but I grab hold of his arm yet again, stopping him.


    “I miss the good times we had too,” I admit, wanting him to know that despite everything, I still care


    about him.


    ke was one of my best friends for a long time.


    I still consider him a friend, but he''s right.


    Things have changed and we''ve grown up.


    It will never be the same between any of us again.


    Especially when he''s trying to make a move on my damn girlfriend.


    "Do you?" ke''s gaze turns hopeful.


    "We should hang out more.


    I''ll be leaving for college soon.’ "So will I” I remind him, wrinkling my nose when he sways closer.


    The dude smells like a liquor cab.


    "And we won''t be so far from each other either.


    We should n on hanging out"


    “We''ll still be a couple of hours away from each other"


    "That''s close enough.” Out of nowhere ke grabs hold of me, pulling me in for a hug.


    "I''m going to miss you so much, man.


    You were one of my best friends.


    I feel bad for everything I''ve done"


    “What have you done?" I ask, my voice muffled by his shoulder.


    “You''re a lucky man, having Harper in your life,” ke continues.


    "! don''t want you to hate me"


    "I don''t hate you"


    I disentangle myself from his smothering embrace, brushing my hair back into ce.


    "You gotta stop trying to kiss her.


    I love you, you''re my friend.


    But I will kick your ass if youy your hands on her again"


    “I''m so sorry, bro.


    Seriously.


    Forgive me.” ke holds his hands up in front of him.


    "I swear I''ll leave her alone forever.


    She''s yours.


    She belongs to you"


    “You''re damn right,” I say, my voice firm.


    "Just don''t hate me, okay? Please?" He''s pleading, his eyes turning ssy.


    Fuck.


    How can I hate this guy? "We''ll talk about thister, okay?" "Okay"


    ke nods, sniffing loudly.


    “It''s cool"


    Harper approaches us, stopping by my side.


    "Are you guys all right?" "We''re great, Harp.


    I''m sorry if I''ve been a prick to you,” ke says.


    And with that, he walks away, not quite able to walk in a straight line, stumbling as he heads toward the


    house.


    “Damn, that guy is so fucked up,’ I say before turning my attention onto Harper.


    "Did he actually get his lips on you?" "No"


    She shakes her head.


    "And you can''t be mad at him for what he tried"


    “Who says?" I scowl at her and she throws herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck and


    kissing along my jaw.


    "Me,’ she murmurs, pulling back so she can smile up at me.


    "I say. Let it go, Easton. ke is so drunk. I think he''s kind of sad too. It''s the end of an era, you


    know?" I press my forehead against hers, gazing into her eyes.


    This girl.


    She''s so smart.


    Compassionate.


    I''ve definitely learned a thing or two from her since we''ve been together.


    "You''re right. And he is so fucking wasted.” "So is Sadie.’ She winces.


    "I''m kind of worried about her.


    She drank an entire bottle of tequ"


    Goddamn.


    "She''ll be okay.


    Ryan will take care of her"


    Harper frowns.


    "He might be wasted too"


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    "They''ll be fine. Don''t worry"


    I slide my hands down to her butt, giving it a gentle squeeze.


    "You were a big tease earlier, when you were dancing with Sadie"


    "Oh, so you did notice"


    “I couldn''t not notice"


    I slowly run my hands up and down her ass, ying with the hem of her shorts.


    "Want to sneak off somewhere? Fuck around for a little while?" "So romantic,’ she croons,ughing


    when I swat her on the ass.


    “And such a perv"


    "You fucking love it,’ I growl, thrusting my hips against hers.


    She kisses me, her eyes glowing.


    "I do."